Feed-wagon.



No.v 862,969.

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PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

.EEATEL EEED WAGON. y APPLICATIONl .FILED APR.20,1907.

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THEODORE D. HEATH, OF PEABODY, KANSAS.

FEED-WAGON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug'. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 20,1907. Serial No. 369,349.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, THEODORE D. HEATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peabody, in the county of Marion and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Wagons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in feed wagons, and has for its object the improvement of the construction of a hopper-like body, that is provided with means whereby material contained in the hopper may be discharged, at the will of the operator, to one side of the running gear of the wagon.

Another object of the invention is the improvement of the construction of valve means for controlling the discharge of material from a hopper.

With these and other objects in View, the invention 4consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as'will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention, while Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a view, in elevation, looking at the front end of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a transverse, sectional view of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the front end of the valve device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the running gear of a vehicle, preferably, an ordinary wagon, which is provided with ordinary bolsters 2, upon which is supported my improved apparatus.

The apparatus comprises vertical standards or uprights 3 and 3f, which are beveled at their upper ends, as atA, upon which ends 4 rest inclined beams or boards 5 and 5. The standards are notched or cut at 6, near their lower ends, and vertical, longitudinally-extending boards 7 engage these cut portions 6 and connect the standards, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. A horizontal board 8 is secured near the upper ends of the back standards 3/, Fig. 2. These standards 3 and 3 and boards 7 and 8 constitute the supporting frame for the hopper.

The hopper comprises sides 9 and 10. These sides are preferably formed of boards, which are secured, in an inclined position, to the inclined beams 5 and 5/, see Fig. if. The hopper is provided with ends 11. The side 9 of the hopper constitutes a part of the bottom, and terminates short of the side 10, thereby leaving an opening or port, as at 12, through which the material contained in the hopper passes when discharging. The side 10, constituting a portion of the bottom ofthe hopper, extends under the lower end of the side 9 and beyond the standards 3 and the side of the running gear 1, whereby the vehicle may be drawn up beside a suitable receptacle, as for instance, a trough 13, shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, and the material contained in the hopper discharged directly therefrom into the trough 13.

Upon each side of the hopper, there is secured a truss structure, er bracing means, which comprises a block 14 secured, preferably, near the center of the side and a central rod 15 and end rods 16, 16. The central rod 15 is preferably provided with eyes 17, which eyes are engaged by eyes formed upon the inner ends of rods 1G. The outer ends of the rods 16 are connected to plates 18 by any suitable means engaging eyes formed upon said plates 18, see Fig. 1. The plates 18 are secured to the side of the hopper by any suitable fastening mea-ns, preferably, by being attached to a longitudinally-extending board 19 that reinforces the upper edge of the side of the hopper. The upper ends of the boards of which the side is formed, may be secured to this board 19. it is to be noted that a portion of the hopper is preferably formed by boards which are secured to the standards 3 and 3 at the ends of the supporting frame. By means of this construction, a compartment 20, Fig. 4, is formed between the discharge opening or outlet 12 and the sliding valve member 21, which is secured against the outer faces of the standards 3.

The valve means for my hopper comprises the valve member 21, which is adapted to be moved vertically against the outer faces of standards 3, and owing to the peculiar structure of the manually operated means for adjusting the valve member 21, said valve member has a reciprocating movement as it is swung or moved from oneposition to another, as will be hereinafter described. The valve member 21 is preferably formed from a dat piece of material, as for instance, a suitable board, and

said member is preferably provided with a double beveled lower edge 22, the inner beveled edge formed parallel to the inclined plane, in which the upper face of the side 10 of the hopper is formed, so that when said valve member 21 is in its closed position, one of its lower beveled edges will rest snug against the upper face of side 10. The double, beveled structure of the lower edge of the valve member is desirable, for the reason that by vertically adjusting the same, any foreign object, as for instance, a corn stalk, would be quickly cut in two, if it is in the path of movement of the valve member. Owing to the peculiar adjustment of the l valve member, the same has a draw-cut action across a foreign object that may be under the beveled edge thereof. Vertical clamp-guides 23 engage the outer face of the valve member 21 and hold the same in an adjusted position. Each clamp-guide 23 is provided, at its lower end, with an angularly-disposed foot 24, which is xedly secured, by any suitable means, to the extended portion of the side 10 of the hopper. The upper end of the clamp-guide is inwardly-bent, as at 25, and is provided with an aperture. Extending through this aperture, is a bolt 2G, which bolt extends through the beam 5. A A nut 27 is threaded upon the outer end of bolt 26, and the inwardly bent end 25 of the clampguide 23 is positioned between the beam 5 and the nut 27, whereby, when said nut 27 is threaded towards the inner end of bolt 26, the clamp-guide will be moved slightly inward, thereby causing the same to bind or clamp the valve member according to the amount of adjustment of the nut 27. The bent end 25 is desirable so as to place it substantially parallel with nut 27 and the outer, longitudinal edge of beam 5. A manuallyoperated lever 28 is pivoted, as at 29, upon a suppoit 30,' carried by the iront end of the' hopper, and a stationary guide 31 is carried by support 30. This guide 31 is provided with an eye or an integral loop 32, see Fig. 5, and within this loop is movably mounted a rod 33. The rod l33 is pivotally connected, at its front end, as at 34, to

the lever 2S, and its rear end is movably connected, by any suitable means, to an eye 35 formed upon a plate 36, which is secured to the valve member 21. Curved supporting-arms 37 are pivo tally mounted at their upper ends, upon bolts 2G, and are pivotally connected at their lower ends, to the valve member 2l, preferably near its lower, beveled edge. These arms are, preferably, curved near their upper end, so as to permit free movement thereof, without interfering with the guideclamps 23. When the operator swings the lever 28 and thereby reciprocates the rod 33 within the eye or loop 32 of guide 31, the valve member 2lv will be moved between the standards 3 and the clamp-guides 23; the curved supporting-arm 37 supports the valve member, and the clamp-guides 23 serve to hold the valve meinber 21 in an opened or raised position, see Figs. l and ll. When lever 28 is swung forward, the valve member 2l will be moved downward, and the supporting arms will be positioned contiguous to the clamp-guides 23. By swinging valvemember 2l upon arms 37, a reciprocating movement will be caused, whereby a draw-cut action of the lower, beveled edge of the valve member 21 will be caused by the same engaging an object thereunder.

It will be noted that the clamp-guides 23 are formed of any suitable material which will give suliicient resiliency and flexibility for enabling the saine to have a clamping action upon the valve member 21.

The lower end of the side l0 of the hopper, extending from and beyond one side of the running gear, constitutes a chute, which is a continuation of the entire side 10 of the hopper. The extended lower end of the side 10 of the hopper, constituting the chute, is provided with vertical boards 38, constituting iianges for the ends of the chute, for preventing material from being spilled over the ends. I have found from practical experience, that stock can be quickly fed by my apparatus, because, after the hopper has been loaded, the vehicle or wagon can be drawn beside a trough, in the open eld, if desired, and by moving the valve member to an open position, the entire contents can be quickly discharged into the trough.

Of course, it will be obvious that some of the material with which the hopper is loaded, will pass into the compartment 20, formedv between the valve 21 and the opening 12, but by this structure, my apparatus is capable of carrying a larger quantity than if the valve means for closing the opening l2 was positioned so as to fill said opening.

While I have described my apparatus as being, preferably, employed in connection with a vehicle, it will be obvious that the same may be positioned upon a stationary support, as for instance, an elevator, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It will be noted that the portion 10 of the hopper, constituting the lower or longer side, is of a continuous, preferably solid structure, whereby the material will only be discharged through one side of the vehicle. By the term solid, I mean that the material can not be discharged through the portion 10 of the lloor intermediate its ends, but must be discharged, preferably, at its lower end.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a support, of a hopper carried by said support, said hopper provided with a short side constituting a portion of its bottom, and with a long side constituting a portion of the bottom of the hopper, exposing a solid continuous surface below the lower edge of the short side, and valve means positioned above the long side and adapted to control the discharge of material between the lower end of the short side and the long side.

2.In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a hopper provided with inclined sides constituting portions of the bottom, one of said sides having its lower end terminating above the solid face of the other side, and said hopper provided with a discharge opening between the two sides, and valve means positioned above one side and below the other side and being capable of controlling the discharge of material through said discharge opening.

In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a hopper carried by said support, said hopper provided with sides, constituting the bottom of the hopper, one of said sides extending beyond the lower end of. the other side and said extended end constituting a chute i'or discharging material to one side of said hopper, a guide-clamp carried by said'hopper, a movable valve member engaging said clamp, and means for compressing said guide-clamp for causing the same to clamp said valve member.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a hopper carried by said support, a valve member carried by said hopper, a vertical guideclamp carried by said hopper and engaging said valve member, said guide-clamp provided with a foot at one end and with an apertured bent portion at its opposite end, and means engaging the apertured bent portion of said guide-clamp for compressing the same and thereby causing said guide-clamp to bear against said valve member.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a hopper carried by said support, an `arm pivotally mounted near one end upon said hopper, slidable valve means pivotally mounted neai' the opposite `end of said arm, and lever means for swinging said valve lneans uponsaid arm.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a hopper, of a vertically movable valve member carried by said hopper and coperating therewith, a curved arm pivotally mounted at one end upon said hopper and having its opposite end pivotally connected to said valve member, and lever means for moving said valve vmember upon said arm and thereby adjusting said valve member to different positions.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a hopper, of a vertically bodily-movable valve member carried by said hopper, a guide provided with a loop at one end, carried by said hopper, a lever pivotally mounted upon said hopper, a rod extending through the loop of said guide and pivotally connected at one end to said lever and having its opposite end pivotally connected to said guide member.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hopper provided with sides, a truss secured to each side of said hopper,'each truss comprising a block, a central member engaging said block, end-rods connected to said central member near their inner ends, means connecting the outer ends of said rod to the side near its ends, and valve means for said hopper.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hopper provided with sides, a truss secured to each side of said hopper, said truss comprisinga block extending longitudinally of said hopper, a central member provided with eyes at its ends engaging said block, rods connected at their inner ends to the ends of said central member, plates secured to said side near its ends, each plate provided with an eye, said rods connected at their outer ends to the eyes of said plates, and valve means for said hopper.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hopper, said hopper provided with a standard and a discharge opening contiguous to said standard, said hopper provided with a beam, a bolt extending through said beam, a guideclamp carried by said hopper, and `said bolt extending through a portion of said clamp, a movable valve-member positioned between said standard and guideclamp, a curved arm pivotally mounted at one end upon said bolt and pivotally connected at its other end to said valve member, a nut threaded upon said bolt and adapted to secure said arm thereon and being capable of compressing said guide-clamp for causing the same to clamp said valve member, and means for manually adjusting said valve member.

l1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hopper, provided with a discharge opening, a valve member for closing said opening, arms pivotally mounted at one end upon said hopper and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to said valve member, and lever means for moving said valve member and swinging the same upon said arms.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hopper provided with standards, a valve member slidably engaging Said standards, means for exerting pressure upon said valve member for holding the same against said standards, and lever means for adjusting said valve member.

13. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination of a hopper provided with standards, a valve member slidably engaging said standards, clamps carried by said hopper and -pressing against said valve member, arms pivotally mounted at one end upon said hopper and pivotally connected at their opposite end to said valve member, and lever Ameans pivotally mounted upon said hopper and pivotally connected to said valve member, whereby said valve member may be adjusted.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a hopper provided with a discharge opening and having a chute below said discharge opening and forming a continuation of a portion of the bottom of said hopper, said chute extending beyond one side of said hopper, said hopper provided with standards, a valve member slidably engaging said standards,`said hopper provided with a compartment between the discharge opening thereof and said valve member, means pivotally supporting said valve member upon said hopper, and lever means carried by said hopper and connected to said valve member and being capable of reciprocating the same upon said supporting means.

15. In an apparatus of `the class described, the combination with the running gear of a wagon provided with bolsters, of a hopper provided with a frame, supported upon said bolsters, said frame comprising sets of-vertical standards, horizontal boards secured to said standards near their lower ends, a horizontal board secured to one set of said standards near their upper end, each standard provided with an upper, beveled end, the bottom of said hopper supported upon the beveled ends of said standards, a portion of the bottom of said hopper extending beyond one side of said hopper and overhanging a portion of the running gear, said overhanging portion constituting a chute whereby material from said hopper may be discharged to one side of said running gear, and valve means for said hopper.

1G. The combination with holsters, of a frame carried by said bolsters, said frame comprising vertical standards,

longitudinally-extending boards connecting said standards,

a hopper supported upon the upper ends of said standards, one side of said hopper extending` the entire width of said trame and beyond the sides thereof, the lower end of the extended side of said hopper constituting a chute, said chute provided with means for preventing lateral displacement of material, and valve means for lsaid hopper.

17. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a hopper carried by said support, said hopper comprising a short and a comparatively long side, said sides constituting a bottom, said hopper provided with a discharge opening formed between the lower end of said short side and said comparatively long side, the lower end of said long side extending beyond the lower end of said short side and constituting a chute, whereby material may be discharged to one side of said hopper, and bodilymovable valve means carried by said hopper between the discharge opening and the lower end of said chute.

1S. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a hopper carried by said support, a bodily-movable, vertically swinging valve member coperating with said hopper, said valve member provided with a lower, double beveled e( ge, and means for reciprocating said valve member upon said hopper whereby said valve member may be moved to a closed or opened position.

19. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a hopper provided with a discharge opening, of a bodily-movable valve member for cutting oft' the discharge of material through said opening, said valve member provided with a lower, beveled edge, and means for reciprocatingsaid valve member upon said hopper.

20. The combination with a support, of a hopper carried by said support, said hopper provided with two inclined sides constituting the bottom thereof, one of said sides ex` tending below the other side and constituting a chute, valved means positioned above the side constituting a chute and working below the other side.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE D. HEATH.

Witnesses A. M. HEATH, FRANK HEATH. 

